PUBLIC HEALTH
131
No further increase in the penicillin resistance of gonococci, as has been noted elsewhere, has yet manifested itself in Hong Kong. The incidence of penicillin reactions, urticaria and other minor intolerances, however, is mounting and this factor may mitigate against the continued use of penicillin rather more quickly than will the development of bacterial resistance. Penicillinase for the treatment of these reactions became available in October 1958.
New combinations of anti-biotics have been used for clinical trial in the treatment of gonorrhoea.
Post-treatment surveillance has been developed and some 6,500 letters were dispatched during the year for this purpose.
Visits by female social hygiene visitors to female contacts and defaulters from treatment were considerably increased during 1958, following an increase in staff for this purpose.
Leprosy. Ten special clinic sessions for leprosy are held each week and monthly attendances at these average over 3,000.
Nine hundred and seventy six new patients reported, of whom 379 were found to be suffering from leprosy. Infectious cases are admitted to the Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium (run by the Mission to Lepers) whenever possible and 111 patients were transferred there in the course of the year.
As an alternative to the standard drug Diaminodiphenyl sulphone (Dapsone) a new compound Diamonodiphenylsulphozide (D.D.S.O.) was brought into use for the treatment of suitable cases.
An increased number of cases with deformities received remedial surgical treatment and a number of successful ulnar nerve trans- plants and tibialis tendon transplants have been performed both by surgeons in Government hospitals and in the Maxwell Memorial Centre at the Leprosarium itself.
Contact investigation followed by B.C.G. vaccination of child contacts and the follow-up of defaulters from treatment is now carried out by personal home visiting; follow-up by correspondence was discontinued during the year as being less effective.
Dermatology. Patients with skin complaints are treated free at Social Hygiene Clinics as these sessions for dermatology serve as useful preliminary diagnostic centres for the detection of latent